Rezoning alert: 25 Marlborough Avenue, Craighall Park
What is being applied for
- The owner of Erf 695 Craighall Park, 25 Marlborough Avenue, has applied to remove restrictive title deed Conditions A and B and to rezone the property from Residential 1 to Business 3 to permit a restaurant on site.
- The application sits under City Amendment Scheme 20-01-5873 and is framed as an amendment of a previous submission.
Where we are in the process
- The City has published the notice and opened the public comment period. The closing date for objections or comments is 26 November 2025. Submissions after this date cannot be accepted.
Why a rezoning is needed
- A property may only be used in line with its zoning and title deed conditions. The owner wants to change both, to allow a restaurant and related business rights on this residential stand.
What concerns the CraigPark Residents’ Association
These are the CRA’s headline planning concerns for residents to consider when drafting their own submissions:
- No specialist reports with the public pack
The documents placed before residents do not include a Traffic Impact Statement or a bulk services report. The applicant’s own checklist shows traffic and engineering assessments are expected when land use intensity increases. Restaurants typically trigger at least a traffic statement and outline reports for water, sewer and stormwater. - Mischaracterising local context
The motivation describes REEA’s property as operating like a neighbourhood shopping node. REEA is an institutional site that hosts activities to support its charitable mission, which is not the same as a designated business node and should not be used to justify business creep across the road. - Density claims that do not match the area
The motivation references higher-density housing around the node. In reality, the immediate surrounds on the east side of Marlborough remain low-density residential, with any real densification located further away. The application’s framing overstates the commercial and high-density character in the immediate street. - Title deed protections exist for a reason
The title conditions were imposed historically to prevent hotel or restaurant activity on these residential erven. Removing them would permanently weaken the residential edge next to REEA. - Traffic, parking and safety
A restaurant adds vehicle trips, ride-hailing turnover, deliveries and late-hour movements on a narrow residential street already used by pedestrians, cyclists and REEA residents moving to and from work. Without a proper traffic study and parking plan, those risks are untested. - Precedent
Granting Business 3 on the residential side of Marlborough will encourage similar applications along the street, changing the character of the neighbourhood over time.
Key dates
- Objection deadline: 26 November 2025.
- This is a new, amended application. If you objected previously, you must submit a new objection for it to count now.
How to participate
Each household should send its own submission. Short and specific beats long and vague.
- Read what you can
The notice and the applicant’s memorandum are available via the City’s e-platform and from the applicant on request. - State your position clearly
Open with a simple line such as: “I object to the removal of title Conditions A and B and the rezoning of Erf 695 from Residential 1 to Business 3 to permit a restaurant.” - Add your reasons
Use any of the points above that matter to you personally, for example: lack of traffic and bulk services studies, mischaracterisation of area context, title-deed protection of the residential edge, parking and safety concerns, noise and hours, and precedent. - Include your details
Provide your full name, erf and street address, email and phone number. - Send your objection before the deadline
Email your submission to objectionsplanning@joburg.org.za and copy the applicant rick@raventp.co.za and the CRA townplanning@cra.org.za
Use the subject line: “Objection – Erf 695 Craighall Park, 25 Marlborough Avenue.”
CRA’s role
The CraigPark Residents’ Association supports good, lawful development which maintains the character of our suburbs. We will collate information, engage planning experts, and assist residents to frame effective submissions.
CRA’s position regarding this applicaiton
For the reasons noted above, the CRA will be submitting a comprehensive objection which will be supported by professional townplanning advice. Notwithstanding, residents must submit their own objections individually. A single objection from the CRA does NOT protect the community on its own. The City only counts individual submissions from affected residents when considering public interest.
Links to the application documents are below:
CRA’s detailed guidelines on how to object are below: